PC-SIG: World of Education/PC-SiG's World of Education.iso/run/3676/readme.doc

Text File | 1980-01-04 | 18KB | 340 lines

Signing the ALPAHBET is a shareware program designed to assist  in the
learning or teaching of the manual  alphabet employed in ASL (American
sign language.  Refer to the manual for additional  information on ASL
and details on this particular program.

Getting Started

        This text file is provided to get you up and running with min-
mum delay. Please refer to the complete manual on  MANUAL.DOC for more
detail on how to control the speed and change the repeat cycles of the
program if you experience problems beyond the  instructions built into
the program proper.

Computer System Requirements

∙       One 5-1/4  or 3-1/2  floppy disk  drive(s).  A  hard  disk  is
             optional.
∙       80296, 80386, 80486 IBM or compatible computer.  ∙ EGA, or VGA
             color or extended gray scale monitor.
∙       640 K RAM, system base memory desirable.
∙       MS-DOS (OR PC-DOS*) 3.0 or higher.

NOTE:

This application does not need  or  support  a  mouse  or  track  ball
pointer.  (*)  Systems  using  PC-DOS.  If  you  experience difficulty
booting from the supplied  floppy, boot the  computer  with  your  own
system  software and execute ALPHABET from the DOS prompt, or load the
necessary files to your hard disk.

        The two files, ALPHABET.EXE and SETUP.DAT,  are required to be
in the same directory or  sub-directory  in order  for this program to
load and run. The program can be run directly from the supplied floppy
disk or the two required files can be copied to your hard disk. In any
case the floppy disk must be used  in read/write mode,  with the notch
uncovered (5-1/4) or the slot close  (3-1/2) so that  SETUP.DAT can be
read and written to before and after the program is run.

        The program is user friendly,  with built-in  instructions, so
it is not necessary  to have  the remaining .DOC files  on the working
disk.

        "Signing the ALPHABET" is supplied  on a data disk,  no system
track and must be launched with your DOS installed.   Simple boot your
computer and from the  DOS prompt  log to whichever  floppy disk drive
that has the  software  disk installed,  such as drive A:  Log over to
that drive at the DOS prompt by typing the drive A: or B:.   Launching
from a data type disk is accomplished  by typing  the file name on the
EXE file ALPHABET.EXE, with or without the EXE suffix.

        Log to the disk drive where the program  resides.  Launch  the
program by typing the following:

ALPHABET (and press the Enter key)

         It  is  not  necessary to add the EXE suffix. The Enter tells
the computer you have finished your request  from  the  keyboard.  You
must  also  use the Enter or Return key within the program to tell the
computer you have made your entry and wish to continue.

STARTING THE PROGRAM FROM A HARD DISK

        Log to the hard disk or disk partition, if  you  have  divided
your  hard  drive into one or several partitions (C:, D:, E: etc), and
to the sub-directory the SETUP.DAT and ALPHABET.EXE files are located.
Type the following at the DOS prompt:

ALPHABET (Enter)

        The program  is menu driven.   To continue, follow screen in-
structions.

STARTING SIGNING THE ALPHABET FROM A DISK DRIVE

        Install  the  distribution  diskette or a backup diskette made
from the  distribution disk, into a floppy disk drive and from the DOS
>  prompt  log  to  that   drive.  If  this  is the first time you are
launching the application we suggest that you look at the files on the
logged floppy disk drive, with the DOS DIRectory command, to make sure
that both the application ALPHABET.EXE and SETUP.DAT files are present
and  in  the same disk and directory. The presence and location of the
two files is important, otherwise the application will not launch  and
a error will result.

     Typing  the DOS DIRectory command will cause the computer to list
the various files found on the logged  disk  drive.  If  the  list  is
short, they will all remain on the monitor screen so that you can read
them at your leisure. If the list is long, the list  will  scroll  off
the  top  of  the  screen  as new files are added to the bottom of the
list. You can stop the scrolling at any point by pressing  Ctrl  +  S,
that  is  the  control  key plus the letter S key at the same time. To
restart the scroll hit the key combination again.

        Once you have located the two files on the  logged  disk,  all
that  is  necessary  to  start  the  application  is  to type ALPHABET
followed by pressing the Enter key. Files ending with the  suffix  COM
and  EXE,  will  launch  without typing the suffix. You can launch the
application from a DOS  BATch  file  as well and a sample  of  such  a
file will be provided in Section 3.

        After  typing  in  the name of the file, exactly as shown, the
application  will  load.  Then  the  program   will   begin   to   run
automatically  and  the first thing it will do is read the information
in the SETUP.DAT file. If this file is missing, damaged or  corrupted,
the  program will stop and an error message will appear on the screen.
If this should happen after the second try, type the following command
to see what is in the SETUP.DAT file:

(Assuming you are logged to the A: floppy disk drive, you will see DOS
>A: or A: on the screen)

A:TYPE SETUP.DAT (Enter)

        The DOS TYPE command will type  the  SETUP.DAT  file  on  your
monitor  screen  SETUP.DAT  is a simple ASCII text file and you should
see two numbers separated by a comma, no spaces. The initial file,  as
shipped, will contain the following: Page 3.0 2,500

        The  first  number  is the number of times each automated hand
will repeat, thus the number 2 will cause the automated hands,  J  and
Z,  to cycle twice. If the first number is 1, then the hand signs will
cycle only once. If the number was 4, the hands would cycle 4 times.

        The comma is a delimiter and must be present; no spaces either
before or after the comma are allowed.

        The  second  number  determines  the time delay between screen
re-writes for the animated hand sequences.   The  reason  this  number
may  be  different  after  you have run the program the first time, is
because it is dependent on the type & speed of your computer  and  CPU
clock speed. The animations, when first run, may move so fast that you
cannot follow  them, or so slowly  you may not be sure the program  is
working properly.

        Refer to  the  manual  if none  of the  provided  speed change
numbers are suitable for you system.

        Assuming your application  launched  without  difficulty,  the
first  thing you will see on your screen is a red screen with the name
of the program, software version number,  our name and address and the
copyright  notice. You will also see instructions to "Press any key to
continue!"  Press  any  key  to  move  to  the  MAIN  menu.   Special,
customized, version of this software may present a different screen or
the screen contents may be somewhat  different  than  the  description
herein, for the standard release version. Page 3.1 SELECT A LETTER

        The  first  operational  menu,  the MAIN menu, will appear. It
contains 5 options. Each option does the following:

[1] Read instruction on how programs works:

        The application incorporates a three page set  of  preliminary
instructions  that can be reached from the main menu or from any place
in the running program by pressing function key F1. The program is  so
simple  to  run  that  you  are  not likely to need a refresher in the
various main menu options, but if you do, for some reason,  MAIN  menu
Option  [1]  can be had by pressing the number 1 key, from the numeric
key pad or from the regular number keys, followed by Enter  key.  Most
AT  and faster computers use a keyboard with the function keys running
along the top edge, rather than a block of keys on the left side, like
an  XT  computer.

        The  on-screen  instructions   consist  of  three   sequential
screens  of  information and it is necessary to step through all three
pages with the Enter key before  the  application  will  automatically
return  you  to  the  main menu. The built-in instructions explain the
various options and how to use the function keys.

[2] Go to letter hand sign A to Z

        Enter the number 2 and press the Enter  key  to  activate  the
first of two main function programs contained in this application. The
first screen you will see is a black screen with several yellow  boxes
(on  a  color monitor), with an input line that reads "What letter  do
you wish ?" You may enter any letter, A through Z,  in any  order.  We
suggest that the first letter you select be the animated hand sign for
the letter J (or Z).

        Select  letter  J   by typing either a capital or lower case J
followed by  pressing Enter to tell the computer you  have  made  your
selection  and  are ready for the sign. The hand sign for J (or Z if Z
was entered) will appear, it is animated, and  you  will  be  able  to
judge  the  animation speed for your computer by how long it takes the
sign to complete the default 2 cycles. If it  runs  too  fast  or  too

slowly,  return  to the main  menu  and  change  the animation  speed.
The letter Z will run a little slower than the  J,  because  the  path
described  by  the hand is more complex and we wanted it clear how the
letter is formed.

        After the J hand finishes its cycle you have several  ways  to
return  to  the  MAIN menu. The fastest method, and easiest, is to hit
function key F2. F2 jumps directly to the  menu  and  you  can  select
Option  4  to  change  the animation speed. Option 4 will be discussed
shortly.

        When you typed in the letter J  and hit the  Return  key,  the
interactive screen  changed to show  three distinct features.   In the
small box in the upper  left  corner  of  the  screen,  the  letter  J
appears  to  show  your selection. At the same time the  hand sign for
the letter J  cycled above a short narrative describing  how  to  form
the  letter  with  various fingers and the thumb of either hand. A red
head outline appears in the background to show where you  are  located
in  respect to your hand sign. That is, the sign is performed in front
of your body with the palm facing the observer  unless  the  narrative
says otherwise.

        Signs are not actually performed in front of the face, as they
are in this demonstration program, but rather at about shoulder  level
using a bent elbow at a comfortable level at the side of the body. The
body thus offers a background to make the signs easier to see.

        If a specific  letter requires that the palm be turned inward,
toward  yourself,  the image of the hand will be palm inward, in front
of the red head outline. Several lines of copy are included to explain
details  of  how  a  particular  sign  is made, when more than one are
required to construct a letter.

        Again you will see the input request in the upper right corner
of  your screen. Enter a new letter and hit the Enter key when you are
ready to move on. If you wish to return to the main menu from this  or
any  screen  location  you can hit the F2 key or type the word MENU or
Menu or menu, and the main menu screen will appear  in  place  of  the
interactive  screen.  Typing in anything else  will  bring you back to
the interactive screen request to enter a new letter.

[3] Go to hand sign only FLASH-CARDS

        Option   3  brings  up  the  second  functional  part  of  the
application. When you enter the option number 3 and  press  the  Enter
key,  the screen changes to a modified interactive window that shows a
hand sign representing a letter A through Z. The computer has randomly
selected  a  letter automatically, and you must correctly identify the
hand sign for the letter before the screen will change to a  new  test
letter. It is not possible to predict what letter will appear first or
after each selection. It could be the  same  letter  again,  but  more
likely it will be a new letter. If the sign for the letter is composed
of one or more parts, the letter will animate through  the  number  of
cycles established by the SETUP.DAT file or your selection in the MAIN
menu Option 4, SETUP Option 1.

        If you do not enter the correct answer the screen remains  the
same  and  the  computer  will continue to ask the same question "What
number hand sign is shown on the screen." If you do not know, or would
like  a clue, hit function key F3, and the  required  number to  enter
will  appear in  the  upper left  corner of  the  screen  between  two
arrows.  It  is  necessary  to  type this number at the cursor box and
press the Enter key before the application will move on  to  the  next
number.

        If  your  answer  is  correct, the screen will change to a new
letter and the process  is  repeated  as  long  as  you  wish  to  see
FLASH-CARD  letters.  When  you  have had enough you can return to the
main menu by pressing function  key  F2  or  to  the  instructions  by
pressing  function  key  F1.  You can also type the word MENU, Menu or
menu in place of the number to return to the main menu,  but  pressing
function key F2 is simpler and faster.


[4] Change program SETUP options

Option  4 allows the user to change two things from within the running
program - the number of cycles in an animated hand sign and the  speed
the  hand  sign  animates.  You can also return to the default options
built into the software or save your new options so that  the  program
will  launch  as you left it, and you will not need to change it again
unless you want and reduce or increase the  number  of  cycles  and/or
make the automations run faster or slower.

        Type  in  the number 4 and hit the Return key to see the SETUP
menu titled "SELECT PROGRAM OPTION YOU WISH TO CHANGE."

        If you do not wish to change anything, just look at the  menu,
and  return  to  the  main  menu, by hitting F2, or type in any of the
three versions of the word menu followed by the Enter key and you will
return to the MAIN menu without change. Depending on the speed of your
computer the MAIN menu will replace the SETUP menu in  a  short  time.
Options  in  the setup menu will be discussed in Section Three,
Options and Fine Tuning.

[5] Exit program to system or DOS

        The final MAIN menu option is to quit the program  and  return
to  your computer's DOS or screen manager program. Where you return is
dependent on the way you launched the program and information  in  the
launch  BAT  file.  If  you have a main memory problem during a launch
from a screen manager program, usually due to  limited  main  computer
Page 3.4

RAM  memory,  simply  exit from the screen manager and launch ALPHABET
directly from the logged floppy or hard disk drive.

        It  is necessary to always have the SETUP.DAT file in the same
drive and directory as  the  application,  ALPHABET.EXE,  because  the
application is going to look at the SETUP.DAT file before it will run,
it if is not there the application will not run. The SETUP.DAT file is
again re-written on sign-off.

        You  may also exit from other locations in the running program
by typing the word EXIT followed by Enter at  the  prompt  for  a  new
number,  option  2,  or after a hand sign has cycled in the FLASH-CARD
option.

STARTING "Signing the ALPHABET" from a hard disk drive

        There is no real difference in the way the program is launched
from  a  hard  disk as compared to an internal or external floppy disk
drive. Both of the required files must be present,  and  in  the  same
directory.

        Once  launched the application runs exactly the same no matter
where it originated. Be sure that the write protect tab,  on  a  5-1/4
inch  disk,  or  the  slot  of  a  3-1/2  disk,  are in the read/write
position. That is, the notch of the 5-1/4 disk is  uncovered  and  the
slot  in  a 3-1/2 disk is closed. If you launch from a write protected
disk the program will launch correctly, but may lock-up as you exit or
make any changes in the SETUP menu, since you cannot write to the file
properly.

IF THE PROGRAM LOCKS UP

        If you manage to find a bug that we did not  find  during  our
testing  and  Beta trials,  and the program  locks up  and stays stuck
on  the last screen,  enter Control Break  (Ctrl  +  Break)  from  the
keyboard  to  terminate  operation. That is depress first the Ctrl key
than the Pause or Break key. Both keys will thus be depressed  at  the
same time. This will send your computer back to the DOS command screen
and you can restart the application IF you have included  BREAK=ON  in
your  CONFIG.SYS  file.  If  this does not  do the trick, restart your
computer with the hot boot keys Shift  +  Ctrl+  Del,  depressing  all
three keys at the same time.

        Should  a lock-up occur, please try to recall exactly what you
did to cause the error if it happens more than once and  let  us  know
about the problem so we can re-create the same conditions and fix it.

OPTIONS AND FINE TUNING

See the manual for Main Menu option 4 fine tuning.